Rajat Patidar is one of Indian cricket’s most exciting rising stars — a right-handed batsman from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, who captured the nation’s imagination with his explosive innings in the Indian Premier League and has steadily built a reputation as one of the most technically gifted and temperamentally strong cricketers in Indian domestic and international cricket today. His caste background as a member of the Patidar community, his Hindu religious beliefs, his family roots in central India, and his remarkable personal journey from local cricket clubs to leading Royal Challengers Bangalore are subjects of genuine curiosity among fans who want to know the complete story behind the cricketer they admire on the field.
Who is Rajat Patidar? Early Life and Background
Rajat Patidar was born on June 1, 1993, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh — a city with a rich cricketing tradition and vibrant sports culture that has shaped some of India’s finest cricket talent over the decades. Growing up in a middle-class family in the heart of central India, Rajat was introduced to cricket at the tender age of eight when he joined a local cricket club, immediately showing the natural talent and competitive instinct that would define his entire journey through the sport.
His grandfather recognized his potential early and took the important step of enrolling him in a proper cricket academy — a decision that gave young Rajat access to structured coaching and competitive exposure at a formative age. Interestingly, Rajat initially started as a bowler before shifting his focus entirely to batting after his under-15 level competitions, a decision that would prove completely transformative for his career and for Madhya Pradesh cricket.
He attended New Digamber Public School in Indore, where he balanced his academic responsibilities with the increasingly demanding requirements of competitive cricket from a young age. His childhood coach Amay Khurasiya was one of the most important early influences on his technical development, laying the batting foundations that would later support some of the most memorable innings in IPL playoff history. From school cricket under Khurasiya’s guidance to state-level competitions, Rajat’s early journey was defined by patient persistence and a willingness to put in the work that talent alone can never replace.
Understanding Rajat Patidar Cast and Community Background
Rajat Patidar belongs to the Patidar community — historically known as the Kanbi caste — which has deep roots in Gujarati culture and is one of the most prominent and influential communities across central and western India. The Patidar community, comprising sub-castes most prominently the Levas and Kadvas, is primarily associated with agriculture, land ownership, business, and trade, and is generally classified under the Other Backward Class category in India. His surname Patidar itself directly reflects this community background and cultural heritage.
Although Rajat’s ancestral roots are Gujarati, his entire upbringing and personal identity have been shaped in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where the Patidar community has a significant and long-established presence in the social, economic, and cultural fabric of the state. Members of this community have historically excelled across diverse professional fields including business, agriculture, and government service, and Rajat’s emergence as a national-level cricketer represents the community’s growing footprint in competitive sports and entertainment.
Rajat Patidar’s success as a cricketer has made him a source of immense pride for the Patidar community across Madhya Pradesh and beyond. His achievements on the cricket field have brought recognition and visibility to his community, and he is widely celebrated as a new kind of role model — one whose success comes not through traditional community pathways of business or politics but through sporting excellence on a national stage watched by hundreds of millions of people.
Religious Beliefs and Practices
Rajat Patidar follows Hinduism, the faith practiced by the Patidar community across India, and comes from a traditional religious household where Hindu values and practices have been a meaningful part of daily family life. The Patidar community has historically adopted ritually pure Hindu practices including vegetarianism and devotion to Krishna, cultural traditions that have been passed down through generations and continue to shape the values and daily routines of community members today.
His religious beliefs are a private but clearly meaningful part of his identity, reflected in the quiet personal rituals that many Indian cricketers maintain as part of their mental preparation and daily grounding during the demanding and pressure-filled schedule of professional cricket. The values of dedication, discipline, and perseverance that are central to his community’s ethos and his Hindu faith align naturally with the demands of professional cricket, and Rajat appears to carry these values into every aspect of his approach to the game and his personal life off the field.
Family Background and Roots
Rajat Patidar comes from a traditional Gujarati family that has been settled in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, for generations, with his specific family roots traced to Sarjapur village near Indore. His father Manohar Patidar runs a local business in Indore, while his mother Rekha Patidar — also referred to as Manju Patidar in some sources — has been a devoted homemaker whose quiet support has been central to Rajat’s cricketing journey. He also has a sister named Nidhi Patidar, and the family has maintained strong business traditions while wholeheartedly supporting Rajat’s cricket ambitions through every phase of his career.
In various interviews, Rajat has spoken warmly about how his parents are humble and exceptionally supportive — crediting them for encouraging him to pursue cricket from an early age even when the path seemed uncertain and financially challenging for a middle-class family in Indore. His father Manohar Patidar in particular has been cited as a foundational figure in his development, providing both practical support and the emotional encouragement that helped Rajat persist through the long and often frustrating years of domestic cricket before his talent was fully recognized at the national level.
The Patidar family background has given Rajat a strong sense of community identity, family values, and personal responsibility that is clearly visible in the mature and composed way he conducts himself both on and off the cricket field. His deep bond with Indore comes not only from being raised there but from the unwavering family support that began in that city — a connection he has spoken about with genuine warmth and affection throughout his public career.
Educational Journey and Personal Development
Rajat Patidar completed his schooling at New Digamber Public School in Indore before pursuing his Bachelor of Arts degree from Guru Vashistha College in Dewas, located near Indore. Although Rajat was always more passionate about cricket than academics, his family wisely advised him to complete at least a basic degree — a pragmatic approach common among middle-class Indian families who want to ensure their children have multiple options in life while pursuing their sporting dreams simultaneously.
This balanced approach to education and sports demonstrates the grounded values instilled by his family throughout his formative years. The personal development that comes from years of competitive cricket — learning to handle pressure, manage failure, work within a team structure, and maintain focus during long domestic seasons — has been equally if not more important to his growth than any formal educational qualification in shaping the complete and well-rounded professional that Chandrakant Pandit and other senior coaches have praised in recent years.
Domestic Cricket Career and Rise to Prominence
Rajat Patidar made his first-class cricket debut for Madhya Pradesh on October 30, 2015, in the Ranji Trophy — and immediately announced himself as a talent worth watching by scoring a century on debut and another in his very next match, an extraordinary start that established him as a genuinely promising talent in the central zone circuit from day one.
Throughout his domestic career, Patidar consistently delivered for Madhya Pradesh across all formats. He became the leading run-scorer for his state team in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season, accumulating an impressive 713 runs in eight matches — a performance that began attracting serious attention from national selectors and IPL franchise scouts who recognized the numbers behind a name they had not yet seen on the biggest stages.
One of the most historic moments of his domestic career came in 2022 when he played a crucial role in helping Madhya Pradesh win the Ranji Trophy after a gap of 69 years — a landmark achievement for the state’s cricket that Rajat contributed to with a decisive century in the final against Mumbai, cementing his reputation as a big-match performer who delivers precisely when his team needs him most.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25, Patidar was named captain of the Madhya Pradesh cricket team and led by outstanding personal example — finishing as the second-highest run scorer of the tournament with 428 runs in 9 innings at an impressive average of 61.14 and a strike rate of 186.08, including five half-centuries — guiding his team to the final with consistently match-winning contributions throughout.
Indian Premier League Journey
Rajat Patidar was initially purchased by Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the 2021 IPL season, but managed only 71 runs in four games before being released by the franchise — a disappointing start that would have tested the confidence of any young cricketer trying to establish himself in the most competitive T20 league in the world.
In the 2022 IPL auction, Patidar went unsold — a genuinely difficult moment in his career that required him to maintain belief in his own ability despite the public nature of the rejection. However, Royal Challengers Bangalore later signed him as a mid-season replacement, giving him another chance that he would seize in the most spectacular fashion imaginable.
On May 25, 2022, in the Eliminator match against Lucknow Super Giants, Patidar produced one of the most memorable innings in IPL playoff history — scoring an unbeaten 112 off just 54 balls to become the first uncapped player ever to score a century in the IPL playoff stage. It was also the joint-fastest century in IPL playoff history at 49 balls, equaling Wridhiman Saha’s record from 2014 — a statistic that perfectly captures how extraordinary that evening in Kolkata truly was for Indian cricket.
He ended the 2022 season with 333 runs in eight matches at an average of 55.50 — remarkable numbers for a player who had joined the franchise mid-season as a replacement. The manner of his performances, combining technical precision with breathtaking power hitting and composure under extreme pressure, announced him to the entire cricketing world as a talent with genuine match-winning ability at the highest level.
Ahead of the 2023 IPL, RCB retained him — a clear statement of franchise confidence — but Rajat missed the entire season due to an Achilles heel injury that required surgery, a serious setback that tested his resilience and mental strength during what should have been a momentum-building phase of his career.
In the 2024 IPL season, Patidar bounced back strongly, scoring 395 runs in 13 innings at an average of 30.38 and a strike rate of 177.13, including five half-centuries — performances that earned him the captaincy of Royal Challengers Bangalore for the 2025 season. Under his inspiring leadership, RCB clinched their first-ever IPL title, ending an 18-year wait and firmly establishing Rajat Patidar as one of the most significant figures in the franchise’s history.
As of 2025, Rajat Patidar’s IPL career statistics stand at 42 matches played, 1,111 runs scored at an average of 30.86, including 1 century and 9 half-centuries, with a highest score of 112 not out — numbers that only partially capture the impact he has had on RCB and on Indian cricket’s broader conversation.
International Cricket Career
Following his phenomenal 2022 IPL season and continued domestic excellence, Patidar was named in India’s One-Day International squad for the series against South Africa. He made his ODI debut on December 21, 2023, at Boland Park against South Africa, scoring 22 runs off 16 balls in what was a milestone moment after years of domestic toil and patient waiting for his national opportunity.
In January 2024, he was named as a replacement for Virat Kohli in India’s Test squad for the first two matches of the series against England. He made his Test debut on February 2, 2024, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam — a deeply significant moment for a cricketer who had spent nearly a decade building his career through the domestic system. His debut Test series against England did not go as planned, with only 63 runs across six innings, but selectors and coaches who understand the difficulty of Test debuts acknowledged that the talent and temperament are clearly present.
Despite the challenging start to his Test career, Patidar’s consistent domestic performances, his IPL leadership success, and his ability to deliver in high-pressure situations suggest strongly that he has considerably more to offer at the international level. His limited-overs cricket credentials in particular are compelling, and there is genuine optimism in Indian cricket circles that his best international performances remain ahead of him.
Personal Life and Marriage
Rajat Patidar is married to Gunjan Patidar — the couple tied the knot on May 9, 2022, in a private ceremony in Indore, with some sources also citing July 7, 2022 as the wedding date. The marriage took place during the IPL season itself, with reports suggesting Rajat had initially postponed the wedding to join RCB mid-season before eventually completing the ceremony — a detail that perfectly captures the demanding and often personally disruptive schedule of a professional cricketer at the peak of his powers.
Rajat keeps his personal life deliberately private and shares very little about Gunjan or their family life on social media — an approach consistent with many modern Indian cricketers who maintain a clear and healthy separation between their professional identity and their personal world. The couple currently resides in Indore, maintaining the strong connection to Rajat’s hometown that has always been central to his personal identity and sense of belonging.
Financial Success and Net Worth
Rajat Patidar’s financial standing has grown substantially following his IPL breakthrough and his appointment as RCB captain, with his overall net worth estimated between ₹25 crore and ₹30 crore as of 2025 — reflecting his premium IPL contract, BCCI central contract fees, domestic cricket payments, and brand endorsement deals that have multiplied dramatically since his 2022 Eliminator century brought him national recognition overnight.
IPL Contract — ₹11 Crore RCB Retention Royal Challengers Bangalore retained Rajat for ₹11 crore ahead of the 2025 season when he was also appointed captain — making his RCB contract his single largest and most prestigious income source and a reflection of the franchise’s complete confidence in his ability and leadership.
BCCI Grade C Central Contract Rajat holds a Grade C BCCI central contract worth approximately ₹1 crore annually — a meaningful income stream that also carries the institutional recognition of being an officially contracted India cricketer with national team responsibilities.
Brand Endorsements — Skechers and EATFIT Following his IPL breakthrough, Rajat signed endorsement deals with brands including Skechers and EATFIT, earning approximately ₹2 to ₹3 crore annually from these partnerships — a number expected to grow significantly as his profile continues to expand through RCB’s captaincy and international cricket appearances.
Domestic Cricket and Match Fees Years of consistent Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performances have contributed steadily to his career earnings through BCCI and state association payments that reward domestic cricketers for their foundational service to Indian cricket across formats and seasons.
His financial success is the product of the same patience and consistency that defined his cricketing journey — built gradually through years of domestic service before accelerating dramatically following the IPL performances and leadership achievements that transformed both his career trajectory and his earning potential simultaneously.
Playing Style and Strengths
Rajat Patidar is a right-handed top-order batsman whose playing style combines classical technique with modern power hitting in a manner that makes him equally effective across all three formats — a versatility that Chandrakant Pandit and other coaches have consistently highlighted as one of his most valuable professional attributes in an era where format specialization is increasingly common.
Timing and Placement Rajat possesses exceptional timing and the ability to find gaps in the field with precision that comes from years of technically disciplined domestic cricket — making him effective even when the boundaries are not coming freely.
Power Hitting Across the Ground Capable of clearing boundaries consistently in the middle and death overs, his clean striking and ability to hit sixes to all parts of the ground makes him genuinely dangerous in T20 cricket regardless of field settings or bowling plans.
Adaptability Across Formats Comfortable and technically equipped to bat across all formats from Test cricket to T20s, his all-format credentials are built on the solid first-class foundation accumulated through years in the Ranji Trophy with Madhya Pradesh.
Pressure Performance His 2022 IPL Eliminator century — 112 not out off 54 balls — demonstrated a composure under extreme pressure that defines the genuinely elite batsman, accelerating while maintaining technical discipline in the highest-stakes match his franchise faced that season.
Off-Spin Bowling Capability Though primarily a batsman, Rajat can bowl occasional off-spin, adding useful flexibility to his team’s bowling options and making him a more complete and versatile contributor to any playing eleven he is part of.
Match Awareness and Leadership His appointment as RCB captain for 2025 and his leadership of Madhya Pradesh and Central Zone reflect a match awareness and tactical intelligence that extends well beyond batting — qualities that experience across hundreds of competitive innings can develop but raw talent alone cannot manufacture.
Records and Achievements
- First uncapped player ever to score a century in the IPL playoff stage — 112 not out off 54 balls against LSG in the 2022 Eliminator
- Joint-fastest century in IPL playoff history — 49 balls, equaling Wridhiman Saha’s record from 2014
- Fifth-fastest century in Ranji Trophy history — 68 balls against Haryana
- Ranji Trophy champion with Madhya Pradesh in 2022 — ending the state’s 69-year wait for the title
- IPL champion as captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2025 — RCB’s first-ever IPL title
- Duleep Trophy champion as captain of Central Zone in 2025
- Led Madhya Pradesh to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final in 2024-25 with 428 runs at 61.14 average
- ODI debut for India against South Africa in December 2023, Test debut against England in February 2024
Social Media Presence
Rajat Patidar maintains an active and growing social media presence, with over 3 million followers on Instagram under the handle @rrjjtt_01 — a following that grew rapidly following his 2022 IPL Eliminator century and has continued expanding through his RCB captaincy and international appearances. He also maintains a presence on X/Twitter under the handle @rrjjt_01 with over 23,000 followers, and a Facebook page with over 4,500 followers, though he is considerably less active on that platform.
His social media content typically reflects his cricket journey — training routines, match celebrations, team camaraderie with RCB teammates, and occasional personal glimpses that fans appreciate for their authenticity. His digital presence has also become an increasingly important platform for his brand partnerships with Skechers and EATFIT, with endorsement content integrated naturally into his social media activity in a manner that reflects the increasingly professional management of his public image as his profile continues to grow nationally and internationally.
Cultural Impact and Community Pride
Rajat Patidar’s success has had a meaningful and tangible cultural impact in Madhya Pradesh and within the Patidar community — which has deep Gujarati Kanbi roots but a long-established presence across central India — where he has become a genuine symbol of what dedicated hard work and patient persistence can achieve regardless of starting point. In Indore and across the state, young cricketers from similar middle-class backgrounds look to his journey as proof that talent combined with the right attitude can overcome the disadvantages of competing from a state without the historical cricketing prestige of Maharashtra, Delhi, or Karnataka.
For the Patidar community specifically, Rajat represents a new kind of role model whose achievements come through sporting excellence on a national stage watched by hundreds of millions — inspiring families across Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to support their children’s athletic aspirations with the same seriousness they might previously have reserved exclusively for academic or business careers. His captaincy of RCB and their historic 2025 IPL title win added a further dimension to this community pride, transforming him from a celebrated cricketer into a genuine icon whose impact extends well beyond the boundaries of a cricket ground.
Challenges Overcome
Rajat Patidar’s journey to the top of Indian cricket was defined as much by the serious challenges he faced and overcame as by the natural talent he was born with — a reality that makes his story particularly resonant for the many cricketers who struggle to find consistent opportunities in the intensely competitive Indian domestic and IPL system.
Released by RCB and Going Unsold at Auction Being released by RCB after the 2021 season with only 71 runs from four games, and then going completely unsold in the 2022 IPL auction, were deeply public setbacks that tested his resolve and self-belief at a critical stage of his professional development.
Achilles Heel Injury — Missing Entire 2023 IPL Season His Achilles heel injury that required surgery and caused him to miss the entire 2023 IPL season was perhaps his most physically and mentally demanding challenge — losing a full season of momentum at a time when he had just broken through as a nationally recognized name.
Test Debut Struggles Against England Scoring only 63 runs across six innings in his first Test series against England was a humbling introduction to the longest format at international level — a challenge that required him to process public disappointment while maintaining confidence in his own abilities and continued development.
Competition for India Spots Facing intense competition from a generation of talented Indian batsmen for limited national team spots remains an ongoing structural challenge that requires Rajat to consistently deliver at the domestic and IPL level simply to stay in selection conversations.
Role Models and Influences
Rajat Patidar’s development as a cricketer has been shaped by several important figures whose influence is visible in both his technical approach and his professional character — from childhood coaches in Indore to international greats he grew up watching.
Amay Khurasiya — Childhood Coach His childhood coach Amay Khurasiya laid the technical batting foundations in Indore that have supported every major innings of Rajat’s career — an early influence whose guidance during the formative years of development is impossible to overstate for any professional cricketer.
Chandrakant Pandit — Senior Mentor Current Madhya Pradesh team coach Chandrakant Pandit has been instrumental in Rajat’s more recent development and success, providing the senior mentorship and tactical guidance that helped transform a talented domestic batsman into a national-level leader and IPL-winning captain.
Virat Kohli — RCB Inspiration As his RCB franchise icon and one of the greatest batsmen of the modern era, Kohli’s intensity, fitness standards, and absolute commitment to excellence have provided a daily professional benchmark that working within the same franchise makes uniquely accessible and inspiring.
Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid Like virtually every Indian cricketer of his generation, Rajat grew up watching Sachin Tendulkar and drawing inspiration from Rahul Dravid’s example of building a career through patient technical excellence and professional dedication — qualities that resonate particularly strongly with his own domestic cricket journey.
Future Prospects
Rajat Patidar’s future prospects in Indian cricket look genuinely bright following his historic RCB captaincy and the franchise’s first-ever IPL title win in 2025. His combination of proven domestic experience, IPL match-winning track record, leadership credentials, and the technical foundation to succeed across all three formats gives him a profile that selectors are unlikely to overlook as India’s batting lineup continues to evolve over the next several years.
The coming seasons will be crucial in determining whether he can translate his domestic and IPL success into the kind of consistent international performance that cements a long-term place in India’s playing eleven. With his track record of delivering in high-pressure moments — from the 2022 Eliminator century to leading RCB to their first title — the temperament is clearly there, and there is genuine and well-founded optimism in Indian cricket that the best of Rajat Patidar at the international level is still meaningfully ahead of him.
FAQs
What caste is Rajat Patidar?
Rajat Patidar belongs to the Patidar community, historically known as the Kanbi caste, which has deep roots in Gujarati culture and is classified under the Other Backward Class category in India. His family has been settled in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, for generations.
Which religion does Rajat Patidar follow?
Rajat Patidar follows Hinduism, the faith practiced by the Patidar community across India. The community has historically observed Hindu practices including devotion to Krishna, and these values form a meaningful part of his personal and family life.
Who is Rajat Patidar’s wife?
Rajat Patidar is married to Gunjan Patidar. The couple married in May 2022 in a private ceremony in Indore, during the IPL season in which Rajat produced his famous 112 not out against Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator.
Where is Rajat Patidar from?
Rajat Patidar was born on June 1, 1993, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, with family roots traced to Sarjapur village near Indore. He attended New Digamber Public School and later completed his Bachelor of Arts from Guru Vashistha College in Dewas.
What is Rajat Patidar famous for in cricket?
Rajat Patidar is most famous for his stunning 112 not out off 54 balls against Lucknow Super Giants in the 2022 IPL Eliminator — the first uncapped player to score a century in IPL playoff history — and for captaining RCB to their first-ever IPL title in 2025.
What is Rajat Patidar’s net worth?
Rajat Patidar’s net worth is estimated between ₹25 crore and ₹30 crore as of 2025, built through his ₹11 crore RCB retention contract, BCCI Grade C central contract, endorsements with Skechers and EATFIT, and domestic cricket earnings.
Has Rajat Patidar played for India?
Yes, Rajat Patidar made his ODI debut against South Africa in December 2023 and his Test debut against England in February 2024 at Visakhapatnam, where he replaced Virat Kohli in the squad — earning his national call-up through outstanding domestic and IPL performances.
Conclusion
Rajat Patidar’s story is one of the most genuinely inspiring in recent Indian cricket — a tale of patience, persistence, and the refusal to let years of limited opportunity, public rejections at IPL auctions, and serious injury extinguish the belief in one’s own ability. From the cricket grounds of Indore under coach Amay Khurasiya’s guidance, through the long domestic seasons accumulating Ranji Trophy runs for Madhya Pradesh, to the national stage where he delivered one of the most celebrated IPL innings ever played — his journey reflects the values of hard work and community pride that the Patidar community has always championed.
His caste background as a member of the Patidar community with Gujarati Kanbi roots, his Hindu religious faith, his family foundations in Sarjapur village and Indore, and the unwavering support of his father Manohar Patidar and mother Rekha Patidar are not incidental biographical details — they are meaningful parts of the complete picture of who Rajat Patidar is as a person, a professional, and a public figure whose identity is deeply rooted in where he came from.
The 2022 IPL Eliminator century — 112 not out off 54 balls, joint-fastest in playoff history equaling Wridhiman Saha’s record — was not just a cricket innings. It was the moment that validated years of domestic toil, announced a new match-winner to the entire cricketing world, and gave the Patidar community of Madhya Pradesh a cricketing hero to celebrate with genuine and well-deserved pride.
As RCB captain who delivered their first-ever IPL title in 2025, as Duleep Trophy champion leading Central Zone, as a Test and ODI cricketer working to establish himself in India’s playing eleven — Rajat Patidar carries with him the support of an entire community, a passionate state cricketing tradition shaped by Chandrakant Pandit and others, and the lessons of a career built entirely the hard way through consistent performance rather than shortcut or inherited privilege.
Whether measured by his Patidar community roots, his Hindu values and family foundations, his historic domestic and IPL achievements, or his ability to deliver the extraordinary innings when it matters most — Rajat Patidar represents the very best of what Indian cricket’s domestic system can produce when talent meets opportunity, perseverance meets patience, and a cricketer from a middle-class family in Indore absolutely refuses to stop believing in himself until the whole country has no choice but to believe too.
Den Mark is a passionate writer specializing in celebrity news, biographies, and net worth insights. With a keen eye for detail, he brings readers the latest updates and intriguing stories from the world of fame.
